cooling issue....custom car
 

I have a 914 porsche with a 13b. having trouble keeping it cool. I am using a ford f-150 radiator which is mounted way up front. (engine is in the rear). You'd think that with the coolant traveling all the way to the front of the car, then going through that big radiator, then all the way back to the engine, that it would be plenty cool....but it's not. Running around 200 degrees and sometimes it tries to get up to 210 degrees, but I shut her down. Yes, I am also using a radiator cooling fan.
Do they make aftermarket water pumps to help? or different pullies for the water pump? Any ideas?

I would start with some sort of electric pump, perhaps even just a booster pump. Something like this, perhaps: http://www.jegs.com/p/Stewart-Compon...61611/10002/-1

The stock pump is certainly going to have a bit of trouble drawing water from the radiator at that distance, particularly if a large portion of the radiator is below the water pump's inlet level.

A few questions:

What fan are you using, and what type of controller?
What temp does the fan come on at?
What temperature thermostat are you using?
Is there any possibility that the belt is slipping?
When does the problem occur? At idle, only after a hard run, etc.?


:)

I was going to suggest a booster pump as well.

Or just block off the water pump and run a high volume inline water pump. You might need an alternator upgrade to run one, and you would want to make some kind of simple circuit wired to a dummy light incase the pump fails to operate.

My .02

The problem actually seems to happen more often at cruising. I like the electric pump idea, but not $400 for it.
My radiator is mounted so that it does get a good ammount of air moving through it. Right now, I am using a black magic fan that is controlled by a switch on my dash. I pretty much leave it on the whole time except for warming the car up. I am using a 185 degree thermostat. Should I possibly remove it all together?

DJMTSU- can you explain what you were talking about with blocking off the water pump and using a high volume? How does it operate? pics??

Does anyone know if they make different pullies for the stock pump to increase it's flow?

First of all, 200-210 is not that hot and isn't really a concern, I WISH my car would run that hot.

Get something to automatically control the fan. On @ 190, off @ 185 kinda thing.

Like Prophet says, a booster pump would help alot, but I don't think that's your problem, I think the radiator is. You're using a stock rad for a I6 or V8, I would call Griffen and start picking thier brains. If you've managed to get a good sized rad like that in there, than a better quality, better engineered, full alloy rad would do wonders for you.

Like I said though, 200 isn't anything to worry about.

I saw a set up on a drag FC once. Where the water pump mounts, he just had a plate bolted down. The electric pump was mounted on the fender, with the lower radiator hose going in one side, than out to the engine. It ran at a constant speed when the ignition was switched on. He said it was something he learned from Nascar school (for whatever that is worth), and the pump was available at Summit or Jegs.

But, listen to TT. He is one smart SOB. Get some serious ducting to that radiator, and upgrade to a thicker aluminum set-up.

Yeah 200-210 isnt dangerous, though it's warmer then I like to see. I like mine to be around 190. Are you running a fan shroud? Those help tremendously. Also ducting, make sure any gaps around the radiator are sealed, any air hitting the radiator needs to go through it, gaps will just allow it to escape around the sides.

yes, using a shround and have the air being guided through the fins as much as possible. Also have a heat escape scoop on my hood. You can see in my video. link is below. Money is a bit tight, so I was hoping for some "cheap answers". ha, like that is ever possible!

does anyone have any pictures of the bypass plate on the waterpump?

How confident are you that your gauge is correct?

Oh yeah, make sure your timing is correct too. If it is too retarded, it will overheat the exhaust system. Too advanced and it will overheat the motor. :)

Think of the water pump shape. and then think of a flat plate in its place....

The other option would be to get the smaller plate (water pump housing to block) and putting large -AN fittings routed to an electric pump...

if I went electric pump route, could I just leave my waterpump in place? wouldn't that be easier?

the impeller may be in the way... you may want to get ccreative on that part.

What PSI pressure cap are you running? Have you pressure tested the system and made sure absolutely no air is in there?